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REPORT ON THE STAPENHILL EXPLORATIONS. 157 
its eastern side by the Stanton Road, whilst the Rosliston Road 
runs close by it on the west ; a little further off, towards the north, 
the Trent lazily pursues its course, separating Stapenhill from 
Burton-on-T'rent. 
It seems extremely probable that a Roman road or highway, or 
possibly a British trackway, ran close past this site and on to the 
ford at Stapenhill, thence to Branstone, where it joined another 
road running at right angles to it, and which connected the British 
towns of Burton and Branston. 
It occupies a most prominent position in the landscape, com- 
manding extensive views of the surrounding country. Ona clear 
day, far away in the distant south-west, may be clearly discerned 
the spire of Lichfield Cathedral; towards the west, Needwood 
Forest with Hanbury Church tower can be seen, whilst further off 
still lies Cannock Chase. In the north-west Thorpe Cloud and 
the Weaver Hills bound the horizon, and towards the north is 
seen Crich Stand and the commencement of the Pennine Chain. 
On the east the Derbyshire colliery towns of Newhall, Gresley, 
Swadlincote, Stanton, etc., cut off further view. 
This is just such a spot as might well be chosen in those early 
times for the burying place of the clans or tribes whose settlements 
lay scattered through this part of the Trent valley. 
The immediate site of these explorations occupies 1,226 
square yards; its greatest length being 150 feet, and width 
96 feet, and is at present (1882) in the occupation of Messrs. 
Chamberlain and Ballard respectively, being used by them as a 
brickfield. The clay, which is a fine red marl of the new red 
sandstone formation, being very stiff, tenacious, and almost 
impervious to moisture, and well adapted for the manufacture of 
bricks, formed a capital medium for protecting the remains from 
damp and decay, most of the skeletons when found being perfect 
and in an excellent state of preservation. The ground had also 
the appearance of not having been cultivated for centuries, if, 
indeed, it ever had been, so that the bodies were unearthed in 
just the exact positions in which they had been deposited there 
hundreds of years before. 
